Key Area 4: Conformers And Regulators Flashcards
What are three abiotic factors?
- temperature
- salinity
- pH
What is a conformer?
An organism that maintain their internal conditions to the same as the external environment
Give one advantage and one disadvantage of conformers
- expends little energy controlling internal conditions
- narrow range of ecological niches
What is a regulator?
Organisms that maintain a steady internal environment despite changes in the external environment
Give one advantage and one disadvantage of regulators
- wider range of ecological niches
- required high energy expenditure
Give an example of a conformer
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What is an ectotherm?
Their body temperature varies with that of their surroundings
What is an endotherm?
They maintain a constant body temperature deriving heat from metabolism
What groups of animals are ectothermic?
- reptiles
- fish
- amphibians
What groups of animals are endothermic?
- birds
- mammals
What is homeostasis?
The maintenance of stable body conditions
What is negative feedback control?
The process of maintaining homeostasis
Where is the body temperature in endotherms monitored?
Hypothalamus (in the brain)
How does the brain send signals to correct change in temperature?
chemical messages though the nerves
How does the body correct increased temperature?
- vasodilation where capillaries dilate so blood gets to the surface and radiates heat through the skin
- swear glands produce more water which takes heat energy from the skin to evaporate
How does the body correct decreased temperature?
- skeletal muscles bit are to create friction which produces heat to warm the body
- hair erector muscles contract to trap air on the surface of the skin and hairs stand on end
- capillaries constrict to reduce blood going to the surface of the skin
How do ectothermic regulate body temperature?
Through change in behaviour
What is important about endothermic metabolic reactions?
Body temperature must be constant for metabolic reactions
